Light valve employing a film comprising an encapsulated liquid suspension, and method of making such film

ABSTRACT

A film suitable for use as the light modulating unit of a light valve comprises a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix, and a light valve comprising such a film.

CROSS-REFERENCE

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. application Ser. No. 786,511, filed Nov. 1, 1991, now abandoned which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to light valves and more particularly to improvements relating to incorporating within a plastic film a light valve suspension used to control light transmission in a light valve.

BACKGROUND

Light valves have been used for over fifty years for modulation of light. Early examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,955,923, 1,962,496, 3,512,876 and 3,773,684. A conventional prior art light valve may be described as a cell formed of two walls that are spaced apart by a small distance, at least one wall being transparent, the walls having electrodes thereon usually in the form of transparent conductive coatings. The cell contains a "light valve suspension" namely small particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium. In the absence of an applied electrical field, the particles in the liquid suspension exhibit random Brownian movement, and hence a beam of light passing into the cell is reflected, transmitted or absorbed, depending upon the nature and concentration of the particles and the energy content of the light. When an electric field is applied through the light valve suspension in the light valve, the particles become aligned and for many suspensions most of the light can pass through the cell. Light valves have been proposed for many purposes including, e.g., alphanumeric displays, television displays, windows, mirrors, eyeglasses and the like to control the amount of light passing therethrough.

For light valves of large size oriented in a vertical position, hydrostatic pressure can cause a serious problem. This pressure arises because the weight of a column of the liquid light valve suspension tends to make the walls of a light valve bulge outward, especially toward the lower part of the light valve. Methods for reducing this problem have been suggested in the prior art, e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,742,600, 3,744,126 and 3,912,365. However, for large area light valves, such as may be desirable for use as windows, outdoor signs and other types of displays it is usually desirable that the thickness of the layer of the light valve suspension be substantially uniform over the whole active area of the light valve. If the layer thickness is not uniform, some parts of the light valve will appear darker than other parts, and application of a voltage to the device will also result in a non-uniform appearance because of non-uniform field strength from area to area. Moreover, bulging due to hydrostatic pressure can put severe strains on the seal around the cell and may break the seal.

Another problem with conventional light valves utilizing a liquid light valve suspension is the apprehension that if the cell wall or seal of the light valve is broken, the liquid light valve suspension could escape and cause damage to the user and/or objects near the light valve. This is of particular concern in eyewear applications, e.g., sunglasses, or ski goggles, where it might be believed that liquid valve suspension escaping from a broken light valve lens might harm the eye of the user.

Also, in certain applications, e.g., in eyewear applications which use for each eye a light valve comprising a sandwich of two lens blanks each coated with a conductive transparent coating (and possibly with an overcoating) with a light valve suspension therebetween, use of a suspension in liquid form would prevent one from freely shaping or machining the light valves to fit differently shaped frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now provides a film suitable for use in a light valve, comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a light valve suspension distributed in the matrix, the light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium. The particles exhibit random Brownian movement in the absence of an electric field applied to the light valve suspension and become aligned in the presence of an electric field applied to the light valve suspension.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a film of a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a light valve suspension distributed therein is swollen with a suitable liquid. This improves the frequency response characteristics of the resulting film and reduces light scatter, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross-linked polymer matrix is a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane.

When the film of the invention is formed from a liquid cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer, it is preferred to emulsify the liquid cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer and liquid light valve suspension with an organosiloxane/organic monomer copolymer as emulsifier, followed by treating a thin layer of the emulsion to cross-link the cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer, thereby forming the film of the invention.

The present invention also provides a light valve, comprising a cell having spaced apart cell walls and a film between the cell walls comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a light-valve suspension distributed in the matrix. The light valve suspension comprises particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium.

The Liquid Light Valve Suspension

The liquid light valve suspension distributed in the film of the present invention may be any liquid light valve suspension known in the art and may be formulated according to known techniques. The term "liquid light valve suspension" as used herein means a "liquid suspending medium" in which a plurality of small particles are dispersed. The "liquid suspending medium" comprises one or more non-aqueous, electrically resistive liquids in which there is preferably dissolved at least one type of polymeric stabilizer which acts to reduce the tendency of the particles to agglomerate and to keep them dispersed.

As is known, inorganic and organic particles may be used in a light valve suspension, such as mica, metals, graphite, metal halides, polyhalides (sometimes referred to in the prior art as perhalides) of alkaloid acid salts and the like. The particles in the liquid suspension may be light-polarizing, such as halogen-containing light-polarizing materials, e.g., polyhalides of alkaloid acid salts. (The term "alkaloid" is used herein to mean an organic nitrogenous base, as defined in Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1969). If a polyhalide of an alkaloid acid salt is used, the alkaloid moiety may be a quinine alkaloid, as defined in Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, supra. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,178,996 and 2,289,712 refer in detail to the use of polyhalides of quinine alkaloid acid salts. The particles may be light absorbing or light reflecting.

Also, the particles may be particles of a hydrogenated polyhalide of a quinine alkaloid acid salt, such as dihydrocinchonidine sulfate polyiodide, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,334, or a light-polarizing metal halide or polyhalide, such as cupric bromide or purpureocobaltchloride sulfate polyiodide, as, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 1,956,867. Preferably, the particles are light-polarizing polyhalide particles such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,877,313 and 5,002,701 which are more environmentally stable than prior art polyhalides.

In theory, any type of particle capable of reflecting, absorbing and/or transmitting desired wavelengths of visible light can be used in the liquid light valve suspension. For the purposes of the present invention, however, particles that reflect a substantial amount of visible light can cause objectionable light scatter and are therefore not usually desirable.

The shape of the particles used in the light valve suspension should preferably be "anisometric" i.e. the shape or structure of the particle is such that in one orientation the particle intercepts more light than in another orientation. Particles which are needle-shaped, rod-shaped, lath-shaped, or in the form of thin flakes, are suitable. Light-polarizing crystals are especially useful because they produce a pleasing visual appearance, but any type of light-absorbing particle, preferably exhibiting very little light scatter, can be employed.

The particles are preferably of colloidal size, that is the particles will have a large dimension averaging about 1 micron or less. It is preferred that most particles have large dimensions less than one-half of the wavelength of blue light, i.e. 2000 Angstroms or less to keep light scatter extremely low.

The particles are also preferably light-absorbing, that is the particles absorb a significant part, preferably most, of the light impinging on it and scatter relatively little of the light that impinges on them. Light-absorbing particles comprise many types of material including colored orientable pigments and dyes, e.g. garnet red, conductive black or grey material such as graphite or carbon black, dichroic dyes such as are widely used in guest-host liquid crystal devices, light-polarizing materials, e.g., cupric bromide, and polyhalides, and especially polyiodides, e.g., those described in conjunction with prior art light valve devices.

The term "polyiodide" as used herein is used in the conventional sense and also in the same sense as the term "periodide" is used in numerous prior art light valve patents, e.g., see column 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 1,951,664 (Land) entitled "Colloidal Suspensions and the Process of Making Same" to indicate a material which is a reaction product of a precursor compound, which may be a sulfate (or certain other salts as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,841) of heterocyclic nitrogenous bases with iodine and an iodide. Such reaction products are often called polyiodide compounds. This type of particle is discussed in detail in "The Optical Properties and Structure of Polyiodides" by D. A. Godina and G. P. Faerman published in The Journal of General Chemistry, U.S.S.R. Vol. 20, pp. 1005-1016, (1950). Herapathite, for example, is quinine bisulfate polyiodide, and its formula is given under the heading "quinine iodosulfate" as 4C₂₀ H₂₄ N₂ O₂.3H₂ SO₄.2HI.I₄.6H₂ O in The Merck Index, 10th Ed. (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J.). In more modern, preferred types of polyiodides, the precursor compound need not be a salt, e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,877,313 and 5,002,701. In these polyiodide compounds the iodine is thought to form chains and the compounds are strong light polarizers. The term "polyhalide" is used herein to mean a compound such as a polyiodide, but wherein at least some of the iodine in the iodide is replaced by another halogen element.

The liquid light valve suspension distributed in the film of the present invention may include any of the liquid suspending media previously proposed for use in light valves for suspending the particles. In general, the liquid suspending medium may comprise one or more electrically resistive, chemically inert liquids that will both suspend the particles and dissolve any polymeric stabilizer used to reduce the tendency of the particles to agglomerate and thus keep the particles in suspension. Liquid suspending media that are known in the art are useful herein, such as the liquid suspending media disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,175. In general one or both of the liquid suspending medium or the polymeric stabilizer dissolved therein is chosen so as to maintain the suspended particles in gravitational equilibrium.

A light valve suspension useful in the present invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,565 and is based upon the use as the liquid suspending medium of an electrically resistive, chemically inert, low molecular weight liquid fluorocarbon polymer having a specific gravity at room temperature of at least about 1.5 and having at least about 50% of its atoms constituted by halogen atoms, at least 60% of the halogen atoms being fluorine and the balance chlorine and/or bromine. Preferably, the liquid suspending medium also comprises a miscible electrically resistive organic liquid such as, for example, trialkyl trimellitate, etc. to provide gravitational equilibrium to the suspended particles and to assist in dispersing the particles in the liquid suspending medium. Other materials useful as the miscible electrically resistive organic liquid are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,103, and details concerning the liquid suspending material may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,565.

Other types of suspensions which do not incorporate such halogenated liquids can also be used and can maintain the particles in gravitational equilibrium if a sufficient quantity of stabilizing polymer is employed therein.

Another useful light valve suspension is based on the use as the liquid suspending medium of organic liquids classified as plasticizers. Such "plasticizer" liquid suspending media may comprise one or more electrically resistive, chemically inert organic liquids that will suspend the particles and will dissolve the solid polymeric stabilizer but not the matrix polymer. For example, where the solid polymeric stabilizer is a solid poly(meth)acrylate, useful liquid suspending media include liquid plasticizers for poly(meth)acrylates, such as adipates, benzoates, glycerol triacetate, isophthalates, mellitates, oleates, chloroparaffins, phthalates, sebacates and the like. Liquid suspending media for other solid polymeric stabilizers may be similarly selected from liquids useful as plasticizers for such polymers. Preferably, trialkyltrimellitates, such as tri-n-propyl- or tri-n-butyltrimellitate and/or dialkyl adipates, such as di-octyl adipate or di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, may be used as the liquid suspending medium for solid polymeric stabilizers based on copolymers of neopentyl(meth)acrylate.

The polymeric stabilizer when employed, can be a single type of polymer that bonds to the surface of the particles but also dissolves in the non-aqueous liquid or liquids of the liquid suspending medium. Alternatively, there may be two or more polymeric stabilizers serving as a polymeric stabilizer system. For example, the particles can be coated with a first type of polymeric stabilizer such as nitrocellulose, which in effect, provides a plain surface coating for the particles and one or more additional types of polymeric stabilizer that bond to or associate with the first type of polymeric stabilizer and also dissolve in the liquid suspending medium to provide dispersion and steric protection for the particles.

Preferably, to keep the particles in suspension, the liquid suspending medium may also comprise as the polymeric stabilizer an A-B type block polymer as disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 855,266, filed Mar. 23, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,773, issued Jan. 18, 1994 which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, and in European Patent Publication 350,354. Nitrocellulose and/or other polymeric stabilizers may also be usefully provided in the liquid suspending medium in addition to the block polymer. It is preferred to use just enough A-B block polymer to maintain the particles in suspension, the amount to be used for a given light valve suspension being empirically determined, as is known. While the polymeric stabilizer is commonly a solid, such as a copolymer of neopentyl(meth)acrylate, and an unsaturated organic acid, the polymeric stabilizer may also be a liquid, such as a liquid copolymer of n-butylacrylate and maleic anhydride.

Usually, the amount of the polymeric stabilizer will be from about 1% to about 30%, such as from 5% to about 25%, by weight, based on the total weight of the liquid light valve suspension. However, while the use of a polymeric stabilizer is preferred, it need not be used in all cases.

The liquid light valve suspension and/or the film or light valve of the present invention may optionally also have therein other compatible materials, such as ultraviolet radiation absorbers, heat stabilizers and non-polymeric surfactants and dispersants, etc.

There are several ways in which a U.V. stabilizer may be incorporated into the film. For instance, the U.V. stabilizer may be dissolved in the swelling agent and so be introduced into the film. Or the U.V. stabilizer may be added to the concentrate before mixing with the matrix polymer. Or the U.V. stabilizer may be mixed with the polymer matrix. Or the U.V. stabilizer may be incorporated directly into the polymer matrix (by substituting, for example, U.V. absorber molecules for some of the methyl groups in the polydimethylsiloxane polymer or other such substitution in other matrix polymers). Or the U.V. absorber may be directly incorporated into the suspending polymer via derivatisation of a U.V. stabilizer to a reactive monomer, and subsequent co-polymerization to yield the suspending polymer.

The Film And Its Manufacture

The liquid cross-linkable oligomer or polymer and the light valve suspension are chosen so that the components of one are compatible with the other. That is, neither will deleteriously affect the other. Moreover, the cross-linking agent used to form the cross-linked polymer matrix, the by-products of the cross-linking reaction, if any, and the cross-linking conditions, e.g. temperature, pressure etc., must also be compatible with and not adversely affect the cross-linkable oligomer or polymer, the cross-linked polymer matrix and/or the light valve suspension. For example, if the particles are heat-sensitive, the cross-linking reaction must take place at a temperature at which the particles are stable. If the particles are adversely affected by water, the by-products of the cross-linking reaction must be non-aqueous.

Useful liquid cross-linkable oligomers and polymers include liquid cross-linkable polyorganosiloxanes, polybutadienes, polyolefins, silicone gums, polyacrylamides and the like. The liquid cross-linkable oligomer or polymer may inherently have functional groups that enable it to be cross-linked, such as a polyacrylamide, or it may be a polymer that has been modified to include such functional groups, such as a dihydroxy terminated polydimethylsiloxane. Cross-linkable functional groups are known in the art and include hydroxy, carboxy, amine, amide, silane, and the like. The oligomer or polymer to be cross-linked may have two or more cross-linkable functional groups per molecule, and may even comprise a large number of such groups provided that the solubility requirements previously stated herein are met. Such cross-linkable functional groups may be located not only at or near the ends of the oligomer or polymer chain but also along the chain and may be substituted either directly to the chain or on groups pendant from the oligomer or polymer chain.

Appropriate cross-linking agents are those that will react with the cross-linkable functional groups, as is known, such as alkoxy silanes, alkyl orthotitanates and the like. One or both of the cross-linkable oligomer or polymer and the cross-linking agent must have a cross-linking functionality greater than two, as is known. The cross-linking reaction may also be a condensation between polyfunctional monomers that gives rise to a cross-linked polymer.

It is presently preferred to use a cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane as the cross-linkable oligomer or polymer. Cross-linkable polyorganosiloxanes useful in the present invention are known or can be prepared by methods known in the art. Such liquid cross-linkable polyorganosiloxanes comprise repetitive units of silicon atoms linked to oxygen atoms, where the silicon atoms are substituted by one or usually two substituted or unsubstituted organic groups, and, of course, they also comprise cross-linkable functional groups. Useful organic groups include aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, aliphatic aromatic, aromatic aliphatic and the like. The organic group is preferably saturated aliphatic or aromatic. Most preferably, the organic group is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl.

The cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer may be a homopolymer, such as ##STR1## where R₁ and R₂ are the same or different organic groups, or a copolymer, such as a copolymer of the units ##STR2## wherein at least one of R₁ -R₄ is a different organic group than the others. For examples R₁, R₂ and R₃ may be alkyl, preferably methyl, whereas R₄ is aryl or aralkyl, preferably phenyl.

Cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomers or polymers are preferred for use in the present invention to provide the cross-linked polymer matrix for many reasons. The cross-linked polyorganosiloxanes have excellent oxidation and UV stability and are stable over a wide temperature range. Indeed, when some of the organic groups are aryl, such as phenyl, the temperature stability is increased. Because of the wide availability of polyorganosiloxanes and the ease with which they may be cross-linked and the absence of harmful by-products from the cross-linking reaction, these polymers are relatively inexpensive to make and use.

Moreover, a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix is compatible with a broad range of particles, liquids and polymeric stabilizers used in light valve suspensions. Equally important, the cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix provides the film with a high dielectric strength, which allows for the use of large voltages across the light valve cell without arcing.

It is presently preferred to use a liquid cross-linkable polydimethyl siloxane oligomer or polymer and a multifunctional alkoxy silane cross-linking agent, primarily for reasons of convenience and economics.

The cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer is conveniently prepared by the cross-linking reaction between a high weight average molecular weight (about Mw 110,000 about 150,000) liquid dihydroxy-terminated linear polydimethylsiloxane and a tri-or tetra- alkoxy silane. If the organosiloxane copolymer emulsifier described hereinafter is used, lower weight average molecular weight polyorganosiloxane oligomers or polymers can be used, such as from about Mw 13,000 or more. The cross-linking reaction may be catalyzed by metal salts of organic acids (e.g. tin octoate, ferric octoate, dibutyl tin dilaurate, etc.) at room temperature. The amount and type of catalyst and/or cross-linking agent can be varied to change both the rate of cross-linking of the polymer matrix and the properties of the resulting cross-linked polymer matrix.

The film of the invention may be prepared by mixing together a liquid cross-linkable oligomer or polymer, cross-linking agent, catalyst, if any, and liquid light valve suspension, and are preferably emulsified, to form a multitude of droplets of light valve suspension in the liquid cross-linkable polymer. The emulsion can then be cast as a film and allowed to cure, thus yielding a film containing encapsulated droplets of the liquid light valve suspension. Alternatively, a semi-solid system comprising the cross-linkable materials can be mixed with the liquid light valve suspension and then cast as a film and cured.

Copolymer Emulsifier Used To Make The Film

While it is possible to form an emulsion of the cross-linkable oligomer or polymer and the light valve suspension by mechanical means, it is preferable to use an emulsifier to obtain a more stable emulsion. When the liquid cross-linkable oligomer or polymer is a cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane, the emulsifier is preferably a copolymer of an organosiloxane and a copolymerizable organic monomer. The polyorganosiloxane moiety will be soluble in the liquid cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer used to form the polymer matrix, while the polymerized organic monomer will be soluble in the liquid light valve suspension. Most preferably, the copolymer of the organosiloxane/organic monomer is an AB block copolymer, although ABA block copolymers can also be used. Random copolymers or A-B-A-B copolymers are not likely to be as effective. It is presently preferred to provide the organosiloxane/organic monomer copolymer with a weight average molecular weight of from about 20,000 to about 2,000,000, most preferably from about 30,000 to about 80,000.

The use of the copolymer emulsifier with the cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer provides several advantages over emulsification by mechanical means. Thus, the copolymer emulsifier provides an emulsion of improved stability using a lower Mw cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer, which leads to improved films and easier processing. Moreover, the copolymer emulsifier ensures that each droplet of light valve suspension will be surrounded by the polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix, thus avoiding bleeding of light valve suspension from imperfectly enclosed droplets. The copolymer emulsifier also prevents coalescence of the droplets, which enables the production of smaller capsules and a smaller size distribution of the capsules. In addition, a higher ratio of liquid light valve suspension to polyorganosiloxane matrix polymer can be obtained without phase reversal (i.e. capsules of polyorganosiloxane in a suspension matrix), which enables the production of a darker, more homogeneous film.

Organosiloxane copolymers useful as the copolymer emulsifier are known or can be prepared by methods known in the art. Typical block copolymers include copolymers of organosiloxanes and polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyethers, polymethylstyrenes, alkyd resins, polyamides, polyurethanes, polycarbonates, epoxy resins and the like. Typical methods of preparation include copolymerizing a polyorganosiloxane terminated at one or both ends with a polymerizable vinyl group with a copolymerizable organic monomer or condensing a polyorganosiloxane prepolymer having a reactive group with an organic polymer having a complementary reactive group and the like. To facilitate the production of the block copolymer, the copolymerizable polyorganosiloxane prepolymer can be treated with an initiator before reaction with the comonomer or group transfer techniques or other suitable copolymerization methods can be used.

It is presently preferred to form the copolymer emulsifier from methacryloxypropyl- or acryloxypropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane prepolymers, because of their ease of manufacture and/or their commercial availability. Presently, it is preferred to use an acrylate or methacrylate as the comonomer, but other organic comonomers could be used, such as fumarates, maleates, and the like. In general, the polymerized organic comonomer moiety will be selected to be compatible with and soluble in the liquid light valve suspension.

Reduction Of Haze In The Film

Light valves of the prior art described in many of the above mentioned patents, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,565, which use light-absorbing particles, exhibit excellent optical clarity and scatter very little light even though the index of refraction n₀ of the liquid suspending medium of their liquid light valve suspensions is far less than the index of refraction of the electrode material. For example, the index of refraction of one commonly used electrode material, indium tin oxide, is about 2.0 (although it can be somewhat higher or lower depending on layer thickness), whereas the index of refraction, n₀, for the liquid suspending medium will fall in the range of 1.33-1.68 and is usually in the range of about 1.38-1.56. Likewise no for the liquid suspending medium can be substantially lower or higher than that of the glass sheets usually used as the walls of the light valve. The refractive index of glass varies according to the composition of the glass but is commonly about 1.52.

Although some light is lost in a light valve by absorption in or by reflection from the electrodes and walls, as discussed above, no objectionable light scatter is normally caused by them despite the fact that their refractive indices usually differ substantially from that of the liquid suspending medium. Hence, the refractive indices of the walls and electrodes of the light valve can be ignored in seeking to substitute for the liquid light valve suspension in a light valve a working material in the form of a film of the present invention comprising droplets of liquid light valve suspension in a cross-linked polymer matrix that will exhibit excellent optical clarity.

Most preferably, however, the film prepared from the cross-linked polymer matrix is allowed to absorb a suitable organic liquid, which has a multiple effect. Firstly the film swells and light scatter is substantially reduced. Secondly the droplets of suspension encapsulated within the cross-linked polymer matrix appear to absorb the liquid and swell. This "dilution" of the suspension produces a marked decrease in the decay time (by a factor of up to 600) of the film when exposed to an applied electric field. Thirdly the electrical response of the swollen, cross-linked film with respect to frequency and voltage is greatly improved. Swollen films can be driven at a frequency as low as 25 Hertz or less.

Liquids that can be used to swell the film include but are not limited to aliphatic hydrocarbons, halocarbons, esters, ethers, alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic esters, etc. Suitable liquids include: isopentyl acetate, hexyl acetate, octyl acetate, decyl acetate, butyl butyrate, isopropyl butyrate, neopentyl neopentanoate and many other simple aliphatic esters. Other useful liquids include hexane, heptane, 3-methyl decane, 3,6-dimethyl octane and other straight or branched chain hydrocarbons. Further useful liquids include aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, xylene and the like, cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons and halogenated or perhalogenated hydrocarbons, such as perfluoro--and/or perfluoro/perchloro hydrocarbons.

Suitable liquids will have the following characteristics:

(1) the liquid is absorbed by the cross-linked polymer matrix; and

(2) the liquid is a solvent for the nitrocellulose and/or other polymeric stabilizer that may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated in terms of preferred embodiments by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and FIG. 2 are cross-sectional views of ohmic and capacitive type prior art light valves incorporating a liquid light valve suspension;

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the closed (off, unactivated or dark) and open (on, activated, or light-transmitting) states of one type of liquid light valve suspension in a prior art light valve;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional schematic illustration of a transparent plastic film containing microdroplets of the liquid light valve suspension dispersed therein without protective layers;

FIG. 5A is a view similar to FIG. 5 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional schematic illustration of one embodiment of the film of the invention with protective layers;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the film of the invention with protective layers;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional schematic illustration of a third embodiment of the film of the invention with protective layers and enclosed within hard relatively rigid substrates; and

FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate the closed and open states of one type of the film of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 a prior art light valve generally indicated as 10 is formed of two sheets of glass 11 and 12 having transparent conductive coatings 13 and 14 on the inner surfaces thereof. The conductive coatings 13, 14 form area electrodes for the application of energizing voltage to the cell 10. The glass plates 11, 12 are separated by a spacer 15 sealed to the glass plates around the edges thereof to provide a chamber 16 therebetween in which the light valve suspension of particles is placed. Once the light valve suspension has been introduced, the cell 10 is sealed. The conductive coatings 13 and 14 are connected to an AC power supply 17. Inasmuch as the light valve suspension in chamber 16 is in contact with conductive coatings 13 and 14 this may be termed an ohmic type cell.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 and corresponding parts are similarly designated. However, in FIG. 2 thin transparent substantially nonconductive coatings 18 and 19, (for example silicon monoxide, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium dioxide or polyimide) are placed over the area electrodes 13 and 14 so that the conductive coatings are protected from the light valve suspension. Since layers 18 and 19 are of dielectric material, the electrodes are, in effect, capacitively coupled to the fluid suspension in chamber 16.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the closed off or dark condition of the cell 10. Here tiny acicular particles 21 are illustrated in random orientation. A beam of light impinging on cell 10, indicated by arrows 22, is absorbed, and if there is a sufficient concentration of particles in the suspension the cell can appear substantially opaque.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the open or light transmitting condition of the cell 10. Here, due to the application of an electric field, the particles 21 are aligned with their major axes perpendicular to the wall faces. In this condition, the particles intercept much less light than in the random state shown in FIG. 3. Consequently a considerable portion of the beam of light 22 passes through the cell, as indicated by the arrows 23.

FIG. 5 shows a film 24, comprising a cross-linked polymeric matrix material in the form of a transparent plastic 25 within which is distributed, a plurality of dark droplets of liquid light valve suspension 26. The globules are dark because the particles within them are strongly light-absorbing.

FIG. 5A shows electrodes 28 coated on both sides of film 24.

FIG. 6 shows protective layers 29 and an electrode 28 placed on both sides of the film 24. In this embodiment the electrodes 28 are on the inner surfaces of the protective layers 29 and in contact with the film 24. Dielectric overcoatings (not shown) could be placed over the electrodes if desired. The protective layers 29 and electrodes 28 in this embodiment are permanently secured to the film 24.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the film 27 in which protective layers 29, which have an electrode 28 on one side of each protective layer, are again placed on both sides of the film 24. However, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment the electrodes are on the outer surfaces of the protective layers 29, and are not in contact with the film 24. Again, the protective layers and electrodes in this embodiment are permanently secured to the film. Thus, in FIG. 6, the electrodes 28 may be coated over the film 24 using known techniques for coating electrodes on glass cell walls, while protective layers 29 may be coated over the electrodes 28, also using known techniques. In FIG. 7, the relationship of electrodes 28 and protective layers 29 is reversed.

FIG. 8 shows a film 24 having protective layers 29 secured thereto. In this embodiment the film 24 is enclosed within hard rigid substrates 30. Electrodes 28 may be carried by the substrates 30 and face the protective layers 29.

It is presently preferred that the electrode 28 and protective layer 29 be in the form of a prefabricated assembly. In this embodiment, the electrode 28 and protective layer 29 shown in FIGS. 6-8 can be provided by a film 29, such as a plastic film, that has been coated with an electrode 28 before application of the assembly to the film 24.

The hard rigid substrates 30 can be transparent materials, such as glass or plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate or polycarbonate. For many applications of a light valve such as variable transmission windows, filters and eyewear, and backlit displays, it is desirable that both substrates be transparent. For such use in the present invention, the electrodes should also be made of transparent material, e.g., thin layers of tin oxide, indium tin oxide (hereinafter "ITO") or of conductive metals such as gold. For other applications such as mirrors and reflective displays it may only be desirable for one substrate and the electrode deposited thereon to be transparent, whereas the second substrate and/or electrode deposited on it can be made of specularly reflective material such as metal; the second substrate could also be made of a ceramic material with a transparent or reflective electrode thereon. Where diffuse rather than specular reflection is desired as in certain types of displays the rear electrodes can be overcoated with a diffuse white layer by any of various methods known in the art. See, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,525 and 4,648,691.

In FIG. 9a a beam of light 31 impinges on a film 24 of the present invention. It is assumed that no potential difference, i.e., electric field, exists between the electrodes 28. Hence the particles 33 dispersed within the microdroplets 26 of the liquid suspension are in random positions due to Brownian Movement. Because the particles absorb light, a beam of light 31 impinging on the film is absorbed by particles 33 within the microdroplets 26. FIG. 9b assumes that an electric field (not shown) exists between the electrodes 28. As a result the particles 33 align within the microdroplets 26 and a considerable portion of the beam of light 31 passes through the film as indicated by the arrows 32.

Electrodes for use in light valves and methods of depositing electrodes on glass and plastic substrates are well known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,512,876 and 3,708,219 which disclose use of electrodes in light valves, and see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,628,927, 2,740,732, 3,001,901 and 3,020,376 which disclose articles having conductive and especially conductive transparent coatings on glass and plastic substrates and methods of forming or depositing such coatings.

As used herein the term "electrode" shall be understood to mean not only electrically conductive metal oxide and other coatings used in the art for such purpose but also such coatings which have dielectric overcoatings on them of materials such as silicon monoxide or dioxide, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, tantalum pentoxide, magnesium fluoride, etc. The electrodes may cover all or part of the substrate on which they are located and may also be applied in patterns. For example, in a light valve functioning as a variable light transmission window or filter for which one would usually wish to vary the amount of light passing through the entire active area of the device. On the other hand, if the light valve were intended to be used as a display device the electrodes would normally be deposited in patterns in discrete areas of the substrate. The term "electrode" as used herein also comprises use of semiconductor films and plural film layers, both transparent and colored, such as are used in active matrix addressed display devices. In all cases where the film of the present invention is used in a light valve device it is assumed that there are appropriate electrical connections leading to a power supply suitable to operate the device.

Although the usual type of liquid light valve suspension used in a light valve increases in light transmission when voltage is applied, it should be understood that the present invention also comprises light valves, films and liquid light valve suspensions which decrease in light transmission when a voltage is applied, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,856, or which when activated increase the transmission of radiation in one part of the electromagnetic spectrum and decrease transmission in another part of the spectrum as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,382.

The film of the present invention can itself function as a light valve provided that it has electrodes on its surfaces or protective layers. However, if the film itself is to function as a light valve, electrodes should preferably be on the inside surface of each protective layer facing the interior part of the film to avoid being scratched and to minimize voltage required to activate the film. Also the external surfaces of the protective plastic layers may have thereon an ultraviolet absorbing lacquer filter such as the type sold by E.M. Chemicals of Hawthorne, N.Y. Numerous other clear surface coatings are commercially available to reduce abrasion and environmental attack especially on plastics. One such system is produced by The Silicone Products Division of General Electric Co., Waterford, N.Y., comprising a hard coating primer called SHP 200 plus SHC 1200 Silicone Hard Coating Resin. A radiation --curable clear coating that resists abrasion and ultraviolet degradation is sold by The Sherwin Williams Company of Chicago, Illinois under the name Permaclear UV.

The same types of surface coatings may be useful with other embodiments of the present invention, particularly where the film is sandwiched between hard plastic substrates such as polycarbonate.

The present invention is illustrated by the following Examples. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise noted.

EXAMPLE 1

One gram of a viscous suspension consisting of 10% pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide (with a trace of SS type 1/4 second viscosity nitrocellulose), 24% of a 97%/3% random copolymer of neopentyl acrylate/methylol acrylamide (polymeric stabilizer), 30% tri-n-butyltrimellitate and 36% di-2-ethylhexyl adipate are combined with 2 grams of dihydroxy terminated polydimethyl siloxane (Mw 110,000), 0.06 grams of tetrabutylorthosilicate (tetra-butoxysilane) and 0.15 grams of dibutyltindilaurate. The combined ingredients are emulsified (by stirring, ultrasonic agitation, etc.), degassed under vacuum to remove entrapped air and then spread on a glass plate to cure. After curing for several hours at room temperature or 1 hour at 85° C. the film is ready.

The film is removed from the plate with a razor blade, allowed to freely absorb toluene and then placed between two conductive coated transparent substrates. Upon application of a suitable A.C. potential the film goes from the darkened to the transmissive state.

EXAMPLE 2

The toluene in Example 1 above is replaced by xylene (mixed isomers), with substantially the same result.

EXAMPLE 3

The toluene in Example 1 above is replaced by a mixed solvent comprising 50% xylenes and 50% n-hexyl acetate, with substantially the same result.

EXAMPLE 4

The toluene in Example 1 above is replaced by type 0.8 Halocarbon Oil, with substantially the same result.

EXAMPLE 5

The toluene in Example 1 above is replaced with n-heptane, with substantially the same result.

EXAMPLE 6

One gram of a viscous suspension consisting of 18.7% pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide (with a trace of SS type 1/4 second viscosity nitrocellulose), 25.1% of a graft copolymer made by reacting an A-B block copolymer of neopentyl/methacrylate/hydroxyethyl methacrylate (polymeric stabilizer) with maleic anhydride, and 56.2% tri-n-butyl trimellitate is combined with 1.5 g dihydroxy terminated polydimethyl siloxane (Mw 150,000), 0.06 g of tetrabutylorthosilicate (tetrabutoxysilane) and 0.15 g of dibutyltindilaurate. The combined ingredients are emulsified (by stirring, ultrasonic agitation, etc.), degassed under vacuum to remove entrapped air and then spread on a glass plate to cure. After curing for several hours at room temperature or 1 hour at 85° the film is ready.

The film is removed from the plate with a razor blade, allowed to freely absorb type 0.8 Halocarbon Oil (manufactured by Halocarbon Products, Hackensack, N.J.) and then placed between two conductive coated transparent substrates, which may be either glass or plastic e.g., polyethylene terephthalate.

Upon application of a suitable A.C. potential the non-light scattering film goes from the darkened to the transmissive state.

Films of the invention can operate at A.C. frequencies of 25 Hertz or higher with preferred frequencies in the range of 100 Hertz to 1 Kilohertz. Typical electric field strengths would be 12 volts per mil or higher but lower field strengths are possible when the liquid light valve suspension comprises large size particles. Films of the invention have been observed with decay times ranging from as low as about 25 ms to several seconds depending on the type and amount of the polymeric stabilizer, e.g., an AB block or random copolymer, used in the liquid suspension, and whether and how the film was swollen, e.g., with Halocarbon Oil or other liquids, after film formation.

A major further benefit of the films of the present invention is that agglomeration of the suspended particles is essentially completely eliminated when a voltage is applied because particle migration is severely restricted.

EXAMPLE 7

1 gram of final suspension comprising 3.5% 2,5-dicarboxypyrazine calcium polyiodide (with a trace of SS type 1/4 second viscosity nitrocellulose), 22% 86:14 random copolymer of tert-butylacrylate: maleic anhydride (polymeric stabilizer) and 74.5% tri-n-propyltrimellitate was combined with 1 gram of dihydroxy terminated polydimethyl siloxane (Mw 36,000) and stirred by hand. The resulting emulsion (100X magnification) consisted of bubbles of suspension in a matrix. To this was added 0.02 g of tetraphenyl orthosilicate as cross-linking agent, and 0.1 g of dibutyl tin dilaurate as initiator. The resulting mass was stirred, then placed between two sheets of ITO coated glass (3 mil spacer) and clamped, then placed in the 85° C. oven to accelerate the curing reaction, although this system will also cure at room temperature. After curing, the cell was energized and it functioned as a light valve by opening and closing. This Example illustrates the use of a non-swollen film.

EXAMPLE 8

A film was prepared by combining 2 g of suspension of 5% 2,5-dicarboxypyrazine calcium polyiodide (with a trace of SS type 1/4 second viscosity nitrocellulose), 20% 98:2 copolymer of n-butylacrylate: maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer) and 75% tri-n-butyltrimellitate with 4 grams of dihydroxyterminated polydimethylsiloxane (Mw= 110,000), 0.16 gram of tetrabutyl orthosilicate and 0.30 g of dibutyltindilaurate. The mixture was stirred well and emulsified, degassed under vacuum and cast as a 4 mil film on a glass substrate. The film was placed in an 85° C. oven for 1 hour to accelerate the cure. After curing, the film, which is light scattering and shows poor response to an electric field--slow decay time--at this stage, is stripped from the substrate with a razor blade. A piece of ITO coated glass is covered with a suitable liquid (e.g. hexyl acetate--see below) and the film is laid on top. More of the liquid is dropped onto the surface of the film and then another sheet of ITO coated glass is placed on top, the resulting cell is clamped and upon application of a signal (e.g. 10KHz, 100V RMS) the film is observed to be non-light scattering with good electrical response: high optical density ratio; fast decay time (<100 ms).

It is observed upon addition of a few drops of a suitable liquid, such as toluene, to the film that the film buckles and expands due to absorption of the liquid into the cross-linked polymer matrix. It is further observed that the individual globules of suspension show also an expansion or increase in volume. The increase in volume of the globules of suspension is accompanied by a sharp decrease in the decay time of the light valve suspension (from about 15 sec. down to 25 ms in one case). Absorption of the liquid into the film also modifies the index of refraction of the globules to the point where the index of refraction of the film is virtually identical to the index of refraction of the globules; thus the film is nearly non-light scattering.

EXAMPLE 9

A film was prepared by combining 1 g of dihydroxyterminated polybutadiene (Mw 6200) with 0.03 g tetrabutylorthosilicate (cross-linker), 0.05 g dibutyltindilaurate (catalyst) and 0.1 g of silver metal (flake<10 microns). After mixing, the material was spread on a glass plate (film thickness 4 mil.) and cured for several hours at 85° C. After curing, the film was removed from the plate with a razor blade, then swollen with toluene and placed between two ITO coated substrates. Upon viewing the film under 100X magnification and applying a voltage (150V, 60HZ) a few of the silver particles were seen to orient.

EXAMPLE 10

A film was prepared by combining 2 grams of a dihydroxyterminated polybutadiene (Mw 6,200) with 0.18 g tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (chain extender/terminal-functionalizer), 0.08 g of glycerol (cross-linker), 0.01 g of dibutyltindilaurate (catalyst) and 0.1 g of graphite (synthetic). After mixing, the material was spread on a glass plate (4 mil. film) and allowed to cure for several hours at 85° C. This system will also cure at room temperature. After curing, the resultant film was swollen with toluene, then removed from the glass plate with a razor blade and placed between two ITO coated substrates. Upon viewing the film under 100x magnification and applying a voltage (150V, 60 Hz) several of the graphite particles were seen to orient.

EXAMPLE 11

A film was prepared by combining 1 g of dihydroxyterminated polybutadiene (Mw 6200) with 0.2 g of light-polarizing crystals of tetraphenyl cyclopentadienone and mixing. Then 0.1 g of tetrabutylorthotitanate (cross-linker) was added and stirred. The tetrabutylorthotitanate cross-linked the polymer within seconds, without the addition of a catalyst. The resulting elastomer was swollen with xylene (mixed isomers) and placed between two ITO coated substrates, spacing 3 mil. During examination under 100x magnification and application of a voltage (150V, 60Hz) several of the particles were observed to orient.

In Examples 9-11, before the film is swollen with the liquid, the particles are embedded in or surrounded by the matrix polymer. After swelling, the film contains a liquid light valve suspension of individual particles in capsules distributed within the matrix polymer. Because the particles are thus individually encapsulated, the use of a protective polymer to prevent agglomeration and/or settling of the particles is not required.

EXAMPLE 12

A film was prepared by combining 2 grams of dihydroxyterminated polybutadiene (Mw 6,200) with 0.06 g of tetrabutyl orthosilicate (cross-linker), 0.1 g of dibutyltindilaurate (catalyst) and 1 gram of a suspension consisting of 10% pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide (with a trace of SS type 1/4 second viscosity nitrocellulose), 30% tributyltrimellitate, 36% dioctyl adipate and 24% a 97:3 random copolymer of neopentyl acrylate/N-methylol acrylamide. The mixture was stirred and emulsified and spread on a glass plate (film thickness 4 mil.) and allowed to cure for several hours at 85° C. After curing, the film was removed from the plate with a razor blade, then swollen with toluene and placed between two ITO coated substrates. When viewed under 100x magnification and upon the application of a suitable voltage (140V, 60Hz) the encapsulated particles were clearly seen to orient to a transmissive state.

EXAMPLE 13

A film was prepared by adding a few drops of concentrate consisting of 18.27% pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide, 26.89%, poly (n-butyl acrylate-comaleic anhydride polymer (98:2) 54.83%, tri-n-butyltrimellitate to about 1 g of Norland Optical Adhesive 61 (Norland Products Inc., 695 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, New Brunswick, N.J.) and stirring. Norland Optical Adhesive 61 is a U.V. curable adhesive derived from a urethane-based polyene, a mercaptan ester and a methacrylic monomer. The material thus produced was spread on a glass plate and exposed to U.V. light for 10 minutes. After curing, the film was stripped from the plate with a razor blade and a portion was immersed in hexyl acetate and ultrasonically probed for 6 minutes. After probing, the film was placed between two ITO coated substrates. Under 100x magnification, it was clearly observed that the suspended particles were indeed encapsulated. There was a certain amount of degradation of the encapsulated suspension as evidenced by a color change of same from blue to red. However, the light polarizing properties of the crystals were retained. It was further observed that upon application of a voltage (100V, 10KHz) the particles oriented and the encapsulated droplets changed from dark red to a light yellow color.

EXAMPLE 14

A film was prepared by combining the following: 2 grams of dihydroxyterminated polydimethylsiloxane (Mw 36,000), 0.27 g of a 90/10 block copolymer of polydimethylsiloxane-co-methylmethacrylate (Mw 100,000, Mn 60,000), one gram of concentrate (consisting of about 15% pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of SS type 1/4 sec. nitrocellulose, 25% polyneopentylacrylate-block-hydroxyethylmethacrylate-graft-maleic anhydride polymer, 60% tri-n-butyltrimellitate), 0.15 g of dibutyltindilaurate and 0.14 g of tetrabutylorthosilicate. The components were combined in the order indicated and mixed with a high speed homogenizer after each addition. A very smooth, very stable emulsion resulted with an average capsule size of about 1 micrometer. After mixing, the emulsion was degassed under vacuum and spread on a glass plate (4 mil. layer) then cured at 85° C. for about 1 hour. The film was stripped from the plate with a razor blade.

After swelling with isopentylacetate and ultrasonic probing (power at 3,6 min) the film was place between two ITO plates and a voltage applied (100V, 10 KHz), the particles oriented and the film became virtually transparent.

EXAMPLE 15

A copolymer emulsifier was prepared using a group transfer reaction as follows. Hexamethyl cyclotrisiloxane (200 g) was dissolved in an equal amount of toluene and passed thought neutral alumina. To this was added 1.2 cc of 1.3 N n-butylithium and the mixture was stirred for five minutes, whereafter 2 cc of dimethylsulfoxide was added. After five hours, the reaction was terminated with 1.0 cc methacryloxypropyl dimethylchlorosilane. The methacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethyl siloxane oligomer thus formed (Mw 110,000) was precipitated in methanol and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for twenty-four hours.

Fifty grams of the methacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethyl siloxane oligomer was placed in a 250 ml flask, to which was added 8 g of neopentyl methacrylate through neutral alumina and 50 cc. tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 0.5 cc methyl trimethylsilyl dimethyl ketone acetal (MTDK acetal). The mixture was stirred for ten minutes after which tris(dimethylamino)sulfur(trimethylsilyl)difluoride was added dropwise as a 5% solution in acetonitrile. The addition was discontinued after reaching the reaction exotherm. The solution turned cloudy. The product, which appeared elastomeric, was an A-B copolymer of polydimethylsiloxane and poly(neopentyl methacrylate) (Mw 131,000-Mn 23,000).

EXAMPLE 16

A film was prepared by combining 0.8 g of a suspension consisting of 20% 2,5-dicarboxypyrazine calcium polyiodide, 20% of a neopentylmethacrylate-block-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer and 60% tri-n-propyltrimellitate with 2 grams of dihydroxyterminated polydimethylsiloxane (Mw 150,000) (matrix), 0.1 gram of the block copolymer of Example 15 (emulsifier), 0.08 gram of tetrabutylorthosilicate (cross-linker) and 0.1 gram of dibutyltindilaurate (catalyst). The mixture was stirred with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum after each addition. After stirring and a final degassing the mixture was spread on a glass plate in a 2 mil layer and allowed to cure for one hour at 85° C. After curing and removal from the plate with a suitable blade, the now cross-linked film was dropped onto a layer of 2,6-dimethyloctane on an ITO coated substrate and swelled. A second substrate was placed over the first and a voltage applied (100V, 60Hz) and the film was observed to go from the darkened to the transmissive state with little or no light scatter.

EXAMPLE 17

Following the procedure of Example 15, a polydimethylsiloxane oligomer terminated with methacryloxypropyl was prepared. (Mw 17,900-Mn 13,900).

Forty-five grams of the methacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane oligomer was placed in a 250 ml flask and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. overnight. Through the flask was added 0.5 cc MTDK acetal, and 50 cc THF, and the mixture stirred for thirty minutes. Thereafter, 15 g N-butylmethacrylate was added followed by the dropwise addition of tris(dimethylamino)sulfur(trimethylsilyl)difluoride as a 5% solution in acetonitrile. The dropwise addition was continued until the reaction exotherm was observed. The solution turned milk white and the copolymer was precipitated in methanol, and dried in a vacuum of at 50° C. overnight. An A-B block copolymer of dimethylsiloxane/n-butylmethacrylate was recovered. (Mw 68,000-Mn 19,500).

EXAMPLE 18

An A-B-A block copolymer of polydimethyl siloxane (B)-co-n-butyl acrylate (A) was prepared by combining (in a 3 neck, 250 ml round bottom flask equipped with condenser, thermometer, addition funnel, heating mantle and teflon coated magnetic stirrer) 19.9 g of methacryloxy-propyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (Mw 33,000) and 80.5 g of hexyl acetate. The solution was heated to reflux (about 170° C.) with stirring and then a solution consisting of 5 g of n-butyl acrylate monomer, 0.21 g of tert.-butyl peroxybenzoate and 10 g of hexyl acetate was added (via the addition funnel) over a 20 minute period. After the addition was complete the reaction solution was allowed to reflux for a further one hour and 40 minutes. After the reaction was complete, the solvent was removed by heating the mixture to boiling in a petri dish on a hot plate. The devolatilized material was a hazy viscous liquid and constituted the A-B-A copolymer emulsifier (Mw 41,000).

The copolymer emulsifier produced by this Example is useful in the production of a light valve film according to the present invention, for example by replacing the copolymer emulsifier of Example 16 with the copolymer emulsifier of this Example.

EXAMPLE 19

0.5 g of a concentrate (consisting of 20% 2,5-dicarboxy pyrazine calcium polyiodide, 20% neopentylmethacrylate-hydroxyethylmethacrylate block copolymer, 60% tri-n-propyltrimellitate was combined with 2.0 g of General Electric Silicone II caulking compound (clear). The combined mass was mixed with a high speed homogenizer, spread in a layer 4 mils thick on a flexible mylar substrate and allowed to cure by standing at ambient conditions for about 24 hours. Thereafter, a piece of the film/mylar sandwich was cut out with scissors and dropped film side down onto a conductive coated substrate covered with a layer of hexyl acetate. The film began to immediately swell and buckle away from the mylar backing and, after several seconds the mylar was simply removed as the film had completely separated. A second conductive coated substrate was then placed on top of the swollen film and upon application of a suitable voltage the film was observed to go from the dark to the transmissive state.

G. E. Silicone II is a moisture-curable RTV silicone elastomer which is cured and cross-linked through hydrolysis on contact with moisture in the air.

Other moisture-curable RTV's cross-link through the condensation of silanol groups with enoxy, oxime or amine groups and can also be used to produce films useful in the invention.

The formation of the film on a flexible plastic substrate (e.g. mylar) permits the film to be manipulated with greater ease than if it were cast on a rigid substrate such as glass. For example, after the film is made on a flexible substrate it can be cut into suitable shapes and sizes preparatory to swelling with an almost unlimited degree of freedom, whereas the same film formed on a glass substrate cannot be so manipulated or only with great difficulty and with more defects (cuts, tears, holes) introduced into the film.

EXAMPLE 20

The film of Example 19 was swollen with 3,6-dimethyloctane and subjected to ultrasonic agitation. The swollen film was then placed between two conductive coated plates (ITO) and a voltage (100V AC, 100Hz), applied, whereupon the film was observed to change from the dark to the transmissive state. While there was some degradation of the polarizing crystals due to reaction with either and/or CH₃ CO₂ H, this curing system should still be usable with particles that are stable with respect to H₂ O and/or CH₃ CO₂ H.

Liquid Polymeric Stabilizers

The polymeric stabilizers previously proposed for use in a liquid light valve suspension have generally been glassy solids. A concentrate of a liquid light valve suspension made using a glassy solid polymer as the polymeric stabilizer must also use a liquid suspending medium that includes a solvent, as described above, to enable the concentrate to be processed into a usable film, but the solvent imposes limitations on the amount of particles that can be included in the concentrate. However, where the polymeric stabilizer is a liquid polymer, the liquid polymeric stabilizer can provide part, or preferably all, of the liquid suspending medium and thus the concentrate can contain a much larger percentage of particles, which in turn enables the production of a thinner, darker film than otherwise.

Also where the matrix polymer and the polymeric stabilizer have both been modified by the substitution of phenyl and fluorine, respectively, it would be very difficult to find a solvent that would dissolve one without dissolving the other. An additional problem encountered with the use of a solvent for a solid polymeric stabilizer is that the refractive index of the solvent can be very much higher than that of the matrix polymer and solid polymeric stabilizer, which increases the amount of haze in the film. These problems are avoided by the use of a liquid polymeric stabilizer.

The liquid polymeric stabilizer is prepared in a conventional manner by using a monomer or monomers that will provide the polymeric stabilizer with a sufficiently low glass transition temperature so that the polymeric stabilizer is liquid at room temperature (about 20° C.) For example, the proper selection of pendant alkyl groups, with respect to the number of carbon atoms as well as the presence or absence of branching as is shown in the art, enables the production of a polymer with a predetermined glass transition temperature (which may be as low as -70° C.). The molecular weight of the polymer will determine the viscosity of the polymeric stabilizer, the higher the molecular weight, the higher the viscosity, as is known. A suitable range of molecular weight for the liquid polymeric stabilizer is from about Mw 1000 to about Mw 2 million.

The monomers for the liquid polymeric stabilizer will be selected as described above for the solid polymeric stabilizer so that the resulting liquid polymeric stabilizer will not dissolve the matrix polymer, but will bond to the surface of the particles and be miscible with any other liquids comprising the liquid suspending medium. Where the particles are coated with nitrocellulose, the liquid polymeric stabilizer preferably includes a small percentage of functional groups that enable the polymeric stabilizer to associate with nitrocellulose, such as groups derived from an unsaturated organic acid, ester or anhydride thereof, such as maleic acid anhydride, or other suitable functional groups such as methylol acrylamide,

2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, etc. Useful liquid polymeric stabilizers include polymerized units of alkyl(meth)acrylates, such as n-butyl acrylate, and/or fluorinated alkyl(meth)acrylates, such as heptafluorobutylacrylate and the like, usually with a small percentage of an unsaturated acid, ester or anhydride thereof, methylol acrylamide, 2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate or the like. In the Examples that follow, the proportions of the monomers are given in weight percentages of the monomers charged. In some cases, the percentages differ slightly from 100%.

Since the molecular weight of a liquid polymeric stabilizer can be controlled, its viscosity can be adjusted to produce a light valve suspension which consists only of a lower viscosity liquid polymeric stabilizer and particles. Separate liquid suspending medium and polymeric stabilizer are not needed. This light valve suspension can then be encapsulated in an matrix polymer whose index of refraction is matched to that of the liquid polymeric stabilizer to form a low haze film that does not need to be swelled. This is ideal for those cases where it is desirable to produce the film between conductive coated substrates of rigid or flexible glass or plastic without further processing (a sandwich cell). This would be particularly useful in those cases where a fast decay time is not required, for instance in architectural glazing.

Manufacture of The Film Using The Cross-linkable Copolymer Emulsifier

According to the present invention, a film useful as the light-modulating agent of a light valve may be prepared by forming an emulsion of the liquid light valve suspension in a liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier. The cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier serves the dual function of providing the cross-linked matrix polymer and an emulsifier. The cross-linkable copolymer has a main chain that includes and is preferably terminated by cross-linkable groups at each end, the main chain being insoluble in the liquid light valve suspension. The cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier also has pendant polymeric groups depending from the main chain, the polymeric groups being soluble in the liquid light valve suspension. Any cross-linking agent that is required to form the polymer matrix is included in the emulsion.

The film of the invention may be prepared by mixing together the liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier, cross-linking agent, catalyst, if any, and liquid light valve suspension, to form an emulsion of a multitude of droplets of liquid light valve suspension in the liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier. The emulsion can then be cast as a film and allowed to cure, thus yielding a film containing encapsulated droplets of the liquid light valve suspension.

The liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier and the liquid light valve suspension are chosen so that the components of one will not deleteriously affect the other. Moreover, the cross-linking agent used to form the cross-linked polymer matrix, the by-products of the cross-linking reaction, if any, and the cross-linking conditions, e.g. temperature, pressure etc., must also be compatible with and not adversely affect the cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier, the cross-linked polymer matrix and/or the light valve suspension. For example, if the particles are heat-sensitive, the cross-linking reaction must take place at a temperature at which the particles are stable. If the particles are adversely affected by water, the by-products of the cross-linking reaction must be non-aqueous.

The main chain of the liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier may be a polyorganosiloxane, polybutadiene, polystyrene, poly(cyclopropene), polyamide, polyolefin, silicone gum, polyacrylamide, polyurethane, and the like. The liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier may inherently have functional groups that enable it to be cross-linked, such as a polyacrylamide, or it may comprise a polymeric chain that has been modified to include such functional groups, such as a dihydroxy terminated polydimethylsiloxane. Cross-linkable functional groups are known in the art and include hydroxy, carboxy, amine, amide, silane, and the like. The cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier may have two or more cross-linkable functional groups per molecule, and may even comprise a large number of such groups provided that the solubility requirements previously stated herein are met. Such cross-linkable functional groups may be located not only at or near the ends of the main chain but also along the main chain and may be substituted either directly to the main chain or on groups pendant from the main chain.

Appropriate cross-linking agents are those that will react with the cross-linkable functional groups, as is known, such as alkoxy silanes, alkyl orthotitanates and the like. One or both of the cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier and the cross-linking agent must have a cross-linking functionality greater than two, as is known. The cross-linking reaction may also be a condensation between polyfunctional monomers that gives rise to a cross-linked polymer.

The liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier may be prepared by conventional copolymerization techniques. For example, a prepolymer with functional groups, Y, such as

    Y--[A].sub.m --Y                                           (I)

may be linked with a second prepolymer (II) having functional groups, X, such as ##STR3## to form a liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier (III) having a main chain terminated by cross-linkable groups and having pendant polymeric groups, such as ##STR4## In the above illustration, m,n, and o are integers, A and B are residues of polymers that are, respectively, insoluble and soluble in the liquid light valve suspension, and L is a inking group.

Alternatively, the prepolymer, Y--[A]_(m) Y, may be reacted with a cross-linking agent (IV),

    L--CH═CH.sub.2                                         (IV),

to form prepolymer (V) having pendant groups terminated with a vinyl groups, such as ##STR5## Prepolymer (V) can then be copolymerized with a vinyl monomer to provide the pendant polymeric emulsifier groups of the copolymer emulsifier (III).

Where the cross-linking agent is trifunctional, it is possible for the main chain to have pendant polymeric emulsifier groups and pendant functional groups, X. In such cases, the trifunctional cross-linking agent can link together two polymeric main chains, such as ##STR6##

It is presently preferred to use a polyorganosiloxane as the main chain of the cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier. Polyorganosiloxanes comprise repetitive units of silicon atoms linked to oxygen atoms, where the silicon atoms are substituted by one or usually two substituted or unsubstituted organic groups, and, of course, they also comprise cross-linkable functional groups. Useful organic groups include aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, aliphatic aromatic, aromatic aliphatic and the like. The organic group is preferably saturated aliphatic or aromatic. Most preferably, the organic group is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl.

The polyorganosiloxane main chain may be a homopolymer, such as homopolymer of the unit ##STR7## where R₁ and R₂ are the same or different organic groups, or a copolymer, such as a copolymer of the units ##STR8## wherein at least one of R₃ -R₆ is a different organic group than the others, and m and n are integers. For example R₃, R₄ and R₅ may be alkyl, preferably methyl, whereas R₆ may be aryl or aralkyl, preferably phenyl.

The polyorganosiloxane main chain may also be a silarylene-siloxane copolymer, such as a copolymer of the units: ##STR9## where R_(6l) -R₁₂ are the same or different organic groups and Ar is arylene. For example, R₇ -R₁₂ may be alkyl, such as methyl, and Ar may be phenylene, naphthylene and the like, preferably phenylene.

A cross-linked polymer matrix derived from a polyorganosiloxane is preferred for use in the present invention for many reasons. The cross-linked polyorganosiloxanes have excellent oxidation and UV stability and are stable over a wide temperature range. Indeed, when the polyorganosiloxane includes some aromatic groups, such as when some of the silicon atoms in the main chain are substituted by aryl (e.g. R₆ is phenyl) or are linked together by arylene (e.g. when Ar is phenylene), the temperature stability is increased. Because of the wide availability of polyorganosiloxanes and the ease with which they may be cross-linked and the absence of harmful by-products from the cross-linking reaction, these polymers are relatively inexpensive to make and use.

Moreover, a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix is compatible with a broad range of particles, liquids and polymeric stabilizers used in light valve suspensions. Equally important, the cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix provides the film with a high dielectric strength, which allows for the use of large voltages across the light valve cell without arcing.

When the main chain of the cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier is a polyorganosiloxane, it is preferred that the pendant groups are provided by polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyethers, polymethylstyrenes, alkyd resins, polyamides, polyurethanes, polycarbonates, epoxy resins and the like. In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the pendant groups are acrylates or methacrylates.

A suitable process for preparing liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifiers having a polyorganosiloxane main chain and pendant (meth)acrylate groups is to copolymerize a polyorganosiloxane having terminal hydroxy groups with a (meth)acryloxypropyl-dialkoxyalkylsilane, -trialkoxysilane, -diaryloxyalkylsilane, or -triaryloxysilane, and a (meth)acrylate monomer. For example, when a (meth)acryloxypropyl-dimethoxymethylsilane or -trimethoxysilane is used, the resulting cross-linkable emulsifier will have repeating units, such as ##STR10## where Ra is methyl or methoxy (depending on whether a -dimethoxymethylsilane or -trimethoxysilane was used) and R₆ is a poly(meth)acrylate linked to the silicon atom via a propylene group. If Ra is methoxy, then another polyorganosiloxane main chain may be linked to the depicted silicon atom by reaction of the methoxy group with a terminal hydroxy group of the dihydroxy-terminated polyorganosiloxane. Suitable catalysts are preferably employed.

Alternatively, a (meth)acrylate prepolymer can be prepared by copolymerizing a (meth)acrylate with the (meth)acryloxypropyl-dialkoxyalkylsilane, -trialkoxysilane, -diaryloxyalkylsilane, -triaryloxysilane etc. and then condensing the (meth)acrylate prepolymer with a dihydroxyterminated polyorganosiloxane.

Suitably, the polyorganosiloxane moiety of the liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier may have a molecular weight of from about Mw 17,000 to about Mw 3 million, preferably from about Mw 30,000 to about Mw 450,000. Moreover, it is at present contemplated that the polyorganosiloxane main chain will constitute more than about 50%, preferably more than about 90% by weight of the cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier.

While it is presently preferred to use pendant poly(meth)acrylate groups, polymers of other unsaturated acids or esters, such as fumarates, maleates and the like can also be used.

It is presently preferred to cross-link the polyorganosiloxane copolymer emulsifier with a multifunctional alkoxy silane cross-linking agent, primarily for reasons of convenience and economics.

The cross-linking reaction may be catalyzed by metal salts of organic acids (e.g. tin octoate, ferric octoate, dibutyl tin dilaurate, etc.) at room temperature. The amount and type of catalyst and/or cross-linking agent can be varied to change both the rate of cross-linking of the polymer matrix and the properties of the resulting cross-linked polymer matrix.

The use of the liquid cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier has several advantages. Thus, the cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier does not require the use of a separate emulsifier. The cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier also ensures that each droplet of light valve suspension will be surrounded by the polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix, thus avoiding bleeding of light valve suspension from imperfectly enclosed droplets. The cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier also prevents coalescence of the droplets, which enables the production of smaller capsules and a smaller size distribution of the capsules. In addition, a higher ratio of liquid light valve suspension to polyorganosiloxane matrix polymer can be obtained without phase reversal (i.e. capsules of polyorganosiloxane in a suspension matrix), which enables the production of darker, thinner and more homogeneous films.

Reduction Of Haze In The Film

Light valves of the prior art described in many of the above mentioned patents, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,565, which use light-absorbing particles, exhibit excellent optical clarity and scatter very little light even though the index of refraction n₀ of the liquid suspending medium of their liquid light valve suspensions is far less than the index of refraction of the electrode material. For example, the index of refraction of one commonly used electrode material, indium tin oxide, is about 2.0 (although it can be somewhat higher or lower depending on layer thickness), whereas the index of refraction, n₀, for the liquid suspending medium will fall in the range of 1.33-1.68 and is usually in the range of about 1.38-1.56. Likewise n₀ for the liquid suspending medium can be substantially lower or higher than that of the glass sheets usually used as the walls of the light valve. The refractive index of glass varies according to the composition of the glass but is commonly about 1.52.

Although some light is lost in a light valve by absorption in or by reflection from the electrodes and walls, no objectionable light scatter is normally caused by them despite the fact that their refractive indices usually differ substantially from that of the liquid suspending medium. Hence, the refractive indices of the walls and electrodes of the light valve can be ignored.

It has now been found by the present invention that the haziness or light scatter of a film comprising a cross-linked matrix polymer having a liquid light valve suspension incorporated therein can be reduced by modifying the matrix polymer and/or the liquid portion of the liquid light valve suspension which contains or is a polymeric stabilizer so that their indices of refraction are more closely matched.

In the preferred system employing a polyorganosiloxane as the cross-linked matrix polymer, this can be accomplished by using a liquid fluorinated polymeric stabilizer in the liquid light valve suspension to lower the index of refraction of the polymeric stabilizer. Further improvement is possible if the polyorganosiloxane contains aromatic groups to raise the index of refraction of the matrix polymer.

In particular, where the polyorganosiloxane matrix polymer is a polyalkylsiloxane, such as a polydimethylsiloxane, a reduction in the haze of the film can be obtained by using as the polymeric stabilizer a poly(meth)acrylate containing fluorine atoms. Further reduction in the haze can be obtained by introducing aromatic groups into the polyalkylsiloxane. This can be accomplished by providing a copolymer of an alkylsiloxane and an arylsiloxane or through the use of a silarylene-siloxane copolymer, as described above.

If the amount of aromatic groups introduced into the polyorganosiloxane matrix polymer is too large, the polymeric stabilizer in the liquid light valve suspension may become soluble in the liquid polyorganosiloxane matrix polymer, which will prevent the particles from orienting in the presence of an electrical field. If the fluorine content in the polymeric stabilizer is too large, it will become incompatible with any nitrocellulose used in the liquid light valve suspension. It has now been found that the optimum solution is to introduce a controlled amount of aromatic groups into the organosiloxane moiety of the cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier and to introduce fluorine atoms into the emulsifier moiety thereof, while also providing fluorine substitution in the liquid polymeric stabilizer.

The use of a silarylene-siloxane copolymer to provide a polyorganosiloxane main chain in which an arylene, e.g. phenylene, group links together two silicon atoms in the main chain of the polymer has several benefits, the most important of which is that the tendency of the polymer to depolymerize, via a ring-chain equilibrium reaction, is reduced. However, from the standpoint of determining the refractive index of the matrix polymer, the same improvement in reducing haze can be obtained with the same mole percent of phenyl or phenylene groups if the molecular weights are essentially the same, even though in one matrix polymer the phenyl groups are linked to a silicon atom whereas in another matrix polymer the phenylene groups are linked to two silicon atoms.

This concept of haze reduction is also applicable to film in which a liquid cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane that does not have emulsifier groups is used to form the matrix polymer. In such cases, the cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane may be modified to include aromatic groups while the liquid polymeric stabilizer is modified to include fluorine. Preferably, this system also includes a copolymer of an organosiloxane and a copolymerizable organic monomer as a (non-cross-linkable) copolymer emulsifier. When such a non-cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier is employed, a limited amount of aromatic groups will be introduced into the organosiloxane moiety of the copolymer emulsifier and into the cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer, while fluorine substitution will be provided in the organic polymer moiety of the copolymer emulsifier and into the liquid polymeric stabilizer.

The levels of substitution will necessarily be empirically determined to reduce the haziness of the film without encountering adverse effects. Moreover, a relatively larger amount of aromatic groups in the organosiloxane moiety of the matrix polymer and copolymer emulsifier can be offset by the use of a relatively small amount of fluorinated monomer in the polymeric stabilizer, and vice versa.

Swelling of the Film

If a film prepared from the cross-linked polymer matrix is allowed to absorb a suitable organic liquid, the film swells and light scatter is also reduced. Moreover, the droplets of suspension encapsulated within the cross-linked polymer matrix appear to absorb the liquid and swell. This "dilution" of the suspension produces a marked decrease in the decay time (by a factor of up to 600) of the film when exposed to an applied electric field. Also, the electrical response of the swollen, cross-linked film with respect to frequency and voltage is greatly improved. Swollen films can be driven at a frequency as low as 25 Hertz or less.

Liquids that can be used to swell the film include but are not limited to aliphatic hydrocarbons, halocarbons, esters, ethers, alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic esters, etc. Suitable liquids include: isopentyl acetate, hexyl acetate, octyl acetate, decyl acetate, butyl butyrate, isopropyl butyrate, neopentyl neopentanoate and many other simple aliphatic esters. Other useful liquids include hexane, heptane, 3-methyl decane, 3,6-dimethyl octane and other straight or branched chain hydrocarbons. Further useful liquids include aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, xylene and the like, cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons and halogenated or perhalogenated hydrocarbons, such as perfluorohydrocarbons "and/or perfluoro/perchloro hydrocarbons, such as CC₃ CF₂ CFCl₂, CCl₃ CF₂ CFClCF₂ Cl, a liquid, low molecular weight fluorocarbon polymer having a specific gravity of at least 1.5 and having at least about 50% of its atoms constituted by halogen atoms, at least 60% of the halogen atoms being fluorine and the balance chlorine and/or bromine, or the like.

Suitable liquids will have the following characteristics:

(1) the liquid is absorbed by the cross-linked polymer matrix; and

(2) the liquid is a solvent for the nitrocellulose and/or other polymeric stabilizer that may be used.

In the preferred system using a polyorganosiloxane matrix polymer, it is presently preferred to swell the film with a halogenated hydrocarbon.

Other Additives

The liquid light valve suspension and/or the film or light valve of the present invention may optionally also have therein other compatible materials, such as ultraviolet radiation absorbers, heat stabilizers and non-polymeric surfactants and dispersants, etc.

There are several ways in which a U.V. stabilizer may be incorporated into the film. For instance, the U.V. stabilizer may be dissolved in the swelling agent and so be introduced into the film. Or the U.V. stabilizer may be added to the concentrate before mixing with the matrix polymer. Or the U.V. stabilizer may be mixed with the polymer matrix. Or the U.V. stabilizer may be incorporated directly into the polymer matrix (by substituting, for example, U.V. absorber molecules for some of the methyl groups in the polydimethylsiloxane polymer or other such substitution in other matrix polymers). Or the U.V. absorber may be directly incorporated into the suspending polymer via derivatisation of a U.V. stabilizer to a reactive monomer, and subsequent co-polymerization to yield the suspending polymer.

The present invention is illustrated by the following Examples. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise noted.

EXAMPLE 1'

A cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier was prepared by combining (in a 3 neck, 500 ml round bottom flask equipped with condenser, thermometer, addition funnel, heating mantle and Teflon coated magnetic stirrer) 50 g of dihydroxy terminated polydimethylsiloxane (Mw 150,000), three drops (about 0.06 g) of dibutyltin dilaurate, 2 drops (about 0.04 g) of methacryloxypropyldimethoxymethylsilane, 2.5 g of n-butyl acrylate monomer and 200 g of hexyl acetate. The solution was heated to reflux, about 170° C., with stirring and then a solution consisting of three drops (about 0.06 g) of tert.-butyl peroxybenzoate and 10 g of hexyl acetate was added dropwise (via the addition funnel) over a 22 minute period. After the addition was complete, the reaction solution was allowed to reflux for a further hour. After the reaction was complete the solvent was removed by heating the mixture to boiling in a petri dish on a hot plate. This devolatilized material was a hazy viscous liquid. The resulting product was a cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier, having a polydimethysiloxane main chain terminated at each end by hydroxy groups and having pendant polybutylacrylate groups.

EXAMPLE 2'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.09 g of the cross-linkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 1', 0.60 g of a concentrate consisting of 30% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 70% by weight of a random copolymer of 98/2 n-butyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.11 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.08 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in 30 minutes.

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 3,6-dimethyl octane. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes.

After the UV adhesive was fully cured, leads were attached to the cell and an A.C. voltage of 200V and 60Hz was applied across the cell. Upon application of the voltage, the transmission of the cell changed from 7.11% OFF state to 18.25% ON state and the color changed from dark blue to a lighter blue. The decay time of the film measured from fully open to fully closed was about 3 seconds and the rise time was about 260 milliseconds.

EXAMPLE 3'

A crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier was prepared by combining (in a 3 neck, 500 ml round bottom flask equipped with condenser, thermometer, addition funnel, heating mantle and Teflon coated magnetic stirrer) 0.03 g of methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 50 g of ethyl acetate to obtain Solution I. Solution I was heated to reflux (77° C.) with stirring and then about one gram of Solution II consisting of 0.2 g of azobisisobutyronitrile dissolved in 20 g of ethyl acetate (Solution II) was added (via the addition funnel). This was followed immediately by the addition of 2.2 g of neopentyl methacrylate monomer in 10 g of ethyl acetate. The reaction solution was then permitted to reflux for about 10 minutes after which the remainder of Solution II was added (via the addition funnel) over a 10 minute period. After the addition of Solution II was complete, the reaction solution was allowed to reflux for 10 minutes and then 140 g of Solution III consisting of 51.2 g of dihydroxy terminated polydimethylsiloxane (Mw 150,000) in 100 g of ethyl acetate was added (via the addition funnel). This was followed by the addition of one gram of dibutyltin dilaurate after which the reaction solution was permitted to reflux for a total of three hours and ten minutes. After the reaction was complete, the solvent was removed by heating the mixture to boiling in a petri dish on a hot plate. This devolatilized material was a hazy viscous liquid. The resulting product was a crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier having a polydimethylsiloxane main chain terminated at each end with hydroxy groups and having at least one silicon atom within the main chain linked to a pendant poly(neopentylmethacrylate) chain and to a pendant hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane chain.

EXAMPLE 4'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.34 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 3', 0.79 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 98/2 n-butyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.09 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.09 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in <28 minutes. After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 3,6-dimethyl octane. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes. After the UV adhesive was fully cured, it was observed that the film was uniformly dark without any bleedout of the liquid light valve suspension. By preventing bleedout of suspension from the droplets of the liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix, the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier enables the production of darker, thinner, more uniform films than was previously possible. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 2.59%. This should be compared to the following Comparative Example A.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE A

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.32 g of dihydroxy terminated polydimethyl siloxane (MW 150,000), 0.82 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 98/2 n-butyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.11 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.10 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in 33 minutes.

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 3,6-dimethyl octane. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes. After the UV adhesive was fully cured, it was readily observed that the film suffered from serious bleed out of the liquid light valve suspension from the film. The OFF state transmission of this film, which was very spotty and nonuniform, was 21.41%.

EXAMPLE 5'

A crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier was prepared by combining (in a 3 neck, 25 ml round bottom flask equipped with condenser, thermometer, addition funnel, heating mantle and Teflon coated magnetic stirrer) 0.06 g of methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 50 ml of ethyl acetate (Solution I). Solution I was heated to reflux (77° C.) with stirring and then about two grams of Solution II consisting of 0.2 g of azobisisobutyronitrile dissolved in 20 ml of ethyl acetate was added (via the addition funnel). This was followed immediately by the addition of 2.2 g of neopentyl methacrylate monomer in 10 ml of ethyl acetate. The reaction solution was then permitted to reflux for about 10 minutes after which the remainder of Solution II was added (via the addition funnel) over a 23 minute period. After the addition of Solution II was complete, the reaction solution was allowed to reflux for about one hour and then Solution III consisting of 52 g of dihydroxy terminated polydimethylsiloxane (Mw 150,000) in 100 ml of ethyl acetate was added (via the addition funnel). This was followed by the addition of one gram of dibutyltin dilaurate in 50 ml of ethyl acetate after which the reaction solution was permitted to reflux for a total of one hour and thirty-five minutes. After the reaction was complete, the solvent was removed by heating the mixture to boiling in a petri dish on a hot plate. This devolatilized material was a hazy viscous liquid. Since a stoichiometric excess of the methacrylcxypropyl-trimethoxysilane was used, the resulting product was a crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier having a polydimethylsiloxane main chain terminated at each end with hydroxy groups and having pendant poly(neopentyl methacrylate) groups and pendant methoxy groups.

EXAMPLE 6'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.08 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 5', 1.07 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 98/2 n-butyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.11 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.07 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in 26 minutes.

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 3,6-dimethyl octane. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes. After the UV adhesive was fully cured, it was readily observed that the film was uniformly dark without any bleedout of liquid light valve suspension from the film. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 0.42%. This should be compared to comparative example A.

EXAMPLE 7'

A crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier was prepared by combining (in a 3 neck, 500 ml round bottom flask equipped with condenser, thermometer, addition funnel, heating mantle and Teflon coated magnetic stirrer) 0.30 g of methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 5 g of n-butyl acrylate monomer and 50 ml of ethyl acetate (Solution I). The solution was heated to reflux (77° C.) with stirring and then 15 ml of Solution II consisting of 0.4 g of azobisisobutyronitrile dissolved in 25 ml of ethyl acetate was added (via the addition funnel) over a period of 20 minutes. The reaction solution was then permitted to reflux for 35 minutes after which the remainder of Solution II was added (via the addition funnel). After the addition of Solution II was complete the reaction solution was allowed to reflux for about one hour and then Solution III consisting of 100 g of dihydroxy terminated polydimethylsiloxane (Mw 12,000) in 100 ml of ethyl acetate was added (via the addition funnel). This was followed by the addition of one gram of dibutyltin dilaurate after which the reaction solution was permitted to reflux for a total of two hours and twenty minutes. After the reaction was complete, the solvent was removed by heating the mixture to boiling in a petri dish on a hot plate. This devolatilized material was a hazy viscous liquid. The resulting product was a Crosslinkable emulsifier having a polydimethylsiloxane main chain terminated at each end with hydroxy groups and having pendant poly(butylacrylate) groups and pendant methoxy groups.

EXAMPLE 8'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 1.70 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 7', 0.50 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose 20% by weight of a block copolymer of approximately 99.7%/0.3% neopentyl methacrylate/hydroxyethyl methacrylate (solid polymeric stabilizer) and 60% by weight of tri-n-butyl trimellitate, 0.17 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.11 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mils thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in 35 minutes. After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 0.8 Halocarbon oil, a low molecular weight oligomer of chlorotrifluoroethylene available from Halocarbon Products. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes. After the UV adhesive was fully cured, it was readily observed that the film was uniformly dark without any bleedout of liquid light valve suspension.

EXAMPLE 9'

A crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier was prepared by combining (in a 3 neck, 500 ml round bottom flask equipped with condenser, thermometer, addition funnel, heating mantle and Teflon coated magnetic stirrer) 0.01 g of acryloxyprooyltrimethoxysilane, 0.34 g of heptafluorobutyl acrylate monomer and 40 ml of xylene (Solution I). Solution I was heated to reflux (137° C.) with stirring and then 12 ml of Solution II consisting of 0.03 g of azobisisobutyronitrile dissolved in 22 ml of xylene was added (via the addition funnel) over a period of 8 minutes. The reaction solution was then permitted to reflux for 16 minutes after which 0.7 g of heptafluorobutyl acrylate was added and the reaction solution was permitted to reflux for 14 minutes after which the remainder of Solution II was added (via the addition funnel) over a period of 26 minutes. After the addition of Solution II was complete, the reaction solution was allowed to reflux for 30 minutes and then Solution consisting of 21.33 g of dihydroxy terminated polydimethylco-methylphenylsiloxane (4.15 mole % phenyl) (Mw about 150,000) in about 50 ml of xylene was added (via the addition funnel). This was followed by the addition of 0.1 ml of dibutyltin dilaurate after which the reaction solution was permitted to reflux for a total of one hour. After the reaction was complete, the solvent was removed by heating the mixture to boiling in a petri dish on a hot plate. This devolatilized material was a hazy viscous liquid. The product was a crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier having a (dimethylsiloxane)(phenylmethyl siloxane) copolymer main chain terminated with hydroxy groups at each end and having at least one silicon atom within the main chain linked to a pendant poly(heptafluorobutyl acrylate) chain and to a pendant hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane chain.

EXAMPLE 10' (A) Preparation of Cured Film

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.01 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 9', 0.54 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/40 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 70/30/2 n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.10 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.08 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in 45 minutes.

(B) Preparation of Light Valve

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with liquid CCl₃ CF₂ CFClCF₂ Cl, available as Halocarbon 455 from Halocarbon Products. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes.

After the UV adhesive was fully cured, it was readily observed that the film was non-hazy. The OFF state haze of the film was 9.7% and the ON state haze (100v, 60Hz) was 2.9%. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 27.4% and the ON state transmission was 62.4%.

EXAMPLE 11'

The cured film obtained from Part A of Example 10' above was swollen with CCl₃ CF₂ CFCl₂, available as Halocarbon 335 from Halocarbon Products. The OFF state haze was 5.7%, while the ON state haze (200v, 60Hz) was 2%. The transmission range of the film was from 45% OFF to 72% ON.

EXAMPLE 12'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.14 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 3', 0.51 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 98/2 n-butyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer) 0.08 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.08 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mix thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in 22 minutes.

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 0.8 Halocarbon oil. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 8.92%. The OFF state haze of the cell was 37.8%.

EXAMPLE 13'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.10 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 3', 0.52 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 90/10/2 n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutyl acrylate/maleic art hydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.09 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.09 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in approximately 30 minutes.

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 0.8 Halocarbon oil. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 7.61% and the ON state transmission at 100 UV, 60Hz was 39.2%. The OFF state haze of the cell was 31.3% and the ON state haze was 28%.

EXAMPLE 14'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.06 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 3', 0.50 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 80/20/1 n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.08 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.08 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane, Aldrich). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in approximately 30 minutes.

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 0.8 Halocarbon Oil. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 6.16% and the ON state (100V, 60Hz) was 25.17%. The OFF state haze of the cell was 23.9% and the ON state haze was 21.3%.

EXAMPLE 15'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.05 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 3', 0.49 g of a concentrate consisting of 201 by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 70/30/1 n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.08 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.08 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane), After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete, the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mils thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85 degrees centigrade. This film cured in 20 minutes.

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with 0.8 Halocarbon oil. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a L/V-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes.

The OFF state transmission of the cell thus formed was 11.58% and the ON state transmission (100V, 60Hz) was 27.16%. The OFF state haze of the cell was 19.2% and the ON state haze was 15%.

EXAMPLE 16'

A film is prepared by combining, in the order indicated, two grams of hydroxy terminated poly(dimethyl-co-methylphenyl) siloxane matrix polymer (5 mole% phenyl), 0.2 g of a block copolymer emulsifier consisting of poly(dimethyl-co-methylphenyl)(5 mole % phenyl) siloxane-co-(68/32 random copolymer) poly (n-butyl acrylate-co-heptafluorobutyl acrylate), 0.5 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% crystals of pyrazine 2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of ss 1/4 second nitrocellulose and 80% of a random copolymer of n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutyl acrylate/maleic anhydride 67/31/1 (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.1 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.08 g of tetrabutoxy silane. The combined ingredients are mixed after each addition with a high speed homogenizer and then vacuum degassed. The mixture is spread in a layer 4 mils thick with a doctor blade on a sheet of 5 mil polyester and then cured at 85° C.

After curing, a piece of the film is cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which has been liberally covered with Halocarbon 335. After several seconds contact this film buckles, swells and releases from the polyester substrate, which is then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass is placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed is sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive is cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes.

The haze in this film cell is comparable to the haze in the film of Example 10'.

EXAMPLE 17' Preparation Of Dihydroxy-Terminated Poly [Dimethyl-Co-Methylphenyl) Siloxane

The title polymer, containing 5.03 mole % phenyl, was prepared by combining (in a 3 neck, 500 ml round bottom flask equipped with condenser, ice bath, thermometer, addition funnel, and Teflon coated magnetic stirrer) 130 g of dichlorodimethylsilane and 20 g of dichloromethylphenylsilane. To this was added, over several hours and with stirring, a solution of 116.6 g of sodium carbonate in 408.1 g of water. After the evolution of carbon dioxide had subsided, the siloxane polymer was separated from the aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous sodium carbonate. 20 g of the above product was then combined with one gram of concentrated sulfuric acid and stirred with heating in order to raise the molecular weight of the polymer. As soon as the molecular weight increased to the desired range, as evidenced by the increase of the viscosity of the mixture, a solution of sodium carbonate in water was added with stirring to terminate the reaction and then 10 ml of heptane was added. The solution of the siloxane in heptane was separated from the aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous sodium carbonate and then filtered and the heptane was removed under vacuum.

The recovered title polymer was a clear colorless viscous liquid having a refractive index of 1.4399 at 20.6° C.

EXAMPLE 18' Preparation Of A Block Copolymer Emulsifier

An A-B-A block copolymer of poly (dimethyl-co-methylphenyl) siloxane (B)-co-poly (n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutyl acrylate) (A) was prepared by combining (in a 3 neck, 250 ml round bottom flask equipped with condenser, thermometer, addition funnel, heating mantle and teflon coated magnetic stirrer) 0.13 g of 1,3-his [(p-acryloxy-methyl) phenethyl]tetramethyldisiloxane, 0.19 g of heptafluorobutyl acrylate monomer, 0.45 g of n-butyl acrylate monomer and 20 ml of xylene (Solution I). Solution I was heated to reflux (about 139° C.) with stirring and then 14 ml of a solution consisting of 0.06 g of azobisisobutyronitrile in 29 ml of xylenes (Solution II) was added (via the addition funnel) over a 22 minute period. After the addition was complete, the reaction solution was allowed to reflux for a further 33 minutes after which the remainder of Solution II was added, the solution was allowed to reflux for a further 34 minutes, then 5 g of the siloxane copolymer of Example 17'. and about one ml of concentrated sulfuric acid was added and the reaction solution was refluxed for 50 minutes. After the reaction was complete the solution was neutralized by the addition of an excess of aqueous sodium carbonate and the xylene-emulsifier phase was separated from the aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous sodium carbonate. Then the solvent was removed by heating the mixture to boiling in a petri dish on a hot plate. This devolatilized material was a yellowish viscous liquid.

EXAMPLE 19'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.01 g of the phenyl-substituted dihydroxy terminated polyorganosiloxane of Example 17', 0.11 g of the block copolymer emulsifier of Example 18', 0.51 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 70/30/1 n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (liquid polymeric stabilizer), 0.10 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.08 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured in an oven at 85° C. This film cured in one hour.

After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which has been liberally covered with 0.8 Halocarbon oil. After several seconds contact this film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which is then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes.

After the UV adhesive was fully cured, leads were attached to the cell and an A.C. voltage of 100V and 80Hz was applied across the cell. Upon application of the voltage the transmission of the cell changed from 29.6% OFF state to 69.6% ON state and the color change from light blue to colorless. The haze went from 8.4% OFF state to 3.4% ON state.

EXAMPLE 20'

A cell was prepared using the film of Example 19' but substituting Halocarbon 455 in place of the 0.8 Halocarbon oil and a voltage of 200 volts at 60Hz was applied to the cell. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 28.3% and the ON state transmission was 69.4%. The OFF state haze of the film was 6.5% and the ON state haze was 2.4%.

EXAMPLE 21'

A cell was prepared using the film of Example 19' above but substituting Halocarbon 335 for the 0.8 Halocarbon oil. A voltage of 200V,60Hz was applied to the cell. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 30.1% and the ON state transmission was 71.2%. The OFF state haze of the cell was 6.1% and the ON state haze of the cell was 1.8%.

EXAMPLE 22' A. Preparation Of Dihydroxy-Terminated Poly(Dimethyl-Co-Methylphenyl) Siloxane

A crosslinkable emulsifier was prepared by first preparing a hydroxy terminated polydimethyl-co-methylphenyl siloxane copolymer through a base catalyzed ring opening reaction as follows. In a three-necked 250 ml round bottom flask equipped with thermometer, condenser and Teflon-coated stirring bar were combined 100 g of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and 21.8 g of trimethyltriphenylcyclotrisiloxane. The reactants were heated to 165° C. and then 0.1 g of a complex consisting of 33 wt% potassium hydroxide in 2-propanol was added, with stirring, and the mixture was heated for 30 minutes and then the reactants were heated for a further three and one half hours at 150° C. to drive the reaction to completion. The copolymer recovered was a clear colorless viscous liquid having 5 mole percent phenyl and a Mw of about 10,000.

B. Preparation Of Cross-Linkable copolymer Emulsifier

To a three-necked 250 ml round bottom flask, equipped with condenser, thermometer, addition funnel and a Teflon-coated magnetic stirrer, there was added 0.81 g of acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 1.50 g of heptafluorobutylacrylate monomer, 3.5 g of n-butylacrylate monomer and 15 ml of hexyl acetate. The combined reactants were heated, with stirring, to reflux (about 150° C.) and then 12.5 ml of a solution consisting of 0.3 g of azobisisobutyronitrile ("AIBN") in 25 ml of hexyl acetate was added over a four minute period. The solution was allowed to reflux for one half hour and then another 12.5 ml of the AIBN solution was added, with stirring, and the solution was refluxed for a further 30 minutes.

To the above solution was then added 105.5 g of the copolymer from Part A of this Example 22' and 1 ml of dibutyltin dilaurate, and the solution was heated to 184° C. for 30 minutes. After the reaction was complete, 50 ml of hexyl acetate was added to the reaction solution and the solution was filtered through a 40-60C glass frit and devolatilized on a hot plate followed by vacuum. The crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier recovered was an amber viscous liquid. The product was a crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier having a (dimethylsiloxane)(phenylmethyl siloxane) copolymer main chain terminated with hydroxy groups at each end and having at least one silicon atom within the main chain linked to a pendant poly(heptafluorobutylacrylate-butyl acrylate) chain.

EXAMPLE 23'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 2.03 g of the crosslinkage copolymer emulsifier of Part B of Example 22', 0.51 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of a random copolymer of 70/30/1 n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutylacrylate/maleic anhydride (Mw about 100,000), 0.13 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.10 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition, this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum. After the final addition was complete the material was spread with a doctor blade in a layer 4 mil thick on a piece of 5 mil polyester sheeting and cured for six days. After curing, a piece of the film was cut out with scissors and placed film side down on an ITO coated sheet of 1/8 inch thick glass, ITO side up, which had been liberally covered with Halocarbon 335. After several seconds contact, the film buckled, swelled and released from the polyester substrate which was then removed. Another sheet of ITO coated glass was placed ITO side down on top of the film and the sandwich cell thus formed was sealed around the edges with a UV curable adhesive. The adhesive was cured in a UV exposure unit for several minutes.

After the UV adhesive was fully cured, the cell was energized by application of 200v, 60Hz. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 33.7%, the ON state was 56.3%. The OFF state haze was 8.9% and the ON state haze 4.4%.

EXAMPLE 24' Preparation Of Dihydroxy Terminated Silphenylene siloxane copolymer

Into a three-necked 250 ml round bottom flask, equipped with thermometer, condenser and Teflon-coated magnetic stirrer was charged 5.68 g of bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl)benzene, 13.93 g of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane ane 20.29 g of ethyl acetate. The combined reactants were heated to reflux, with stirring, to form a suspension of bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl)benzene crystals in a mixture of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane and ethyl acetate. Upon the addition of one ml of concentrated sulfuric acid, the suspended crystals were dissolved and the reaction solution was then allowed to reflux for several hours. After the reaction was complete, about 50 ml of heptane was added and the solution was washed several times with water to remove the acid. The solution was dried overnight over neutral alumina and then the heptane was removed under vacuum. This devolatilized material was a clear viscous liquid and was a dihydroxy terminated silphenylene-siloxane copolymer containing about 5 mole % of phenyl groups and having an Mw of about 30,000.

EXAMPLE 25'

A low molecular weight, liquid polymeric stabilizer was prepared by combining, in a three-necked 250 ml round bottom flask equipped with thermometer, condenser, addition funnel, and Teflon-coated magnetic stirrer, 14 g of n-butyl acrylate, 6 g of heptafluorobutyl acrylate, 0.2 g of maleic anhydride and 100 ml of hexyl acetate. The mixture was heated, with stirring, to reflux (164° C.) and then a solution consisting of 1 g of tert-butyl peroxybenzoate in 50 ml of hexyl acetate was added over a period of 20 minutes and the solution was allowed to reflux for 50 minutes. The solvent was removed via vacuum distillation and the product was a clear colorless, low viscosity liquid. The liquid polymeric stabilizer was a random copolymer (70/30/1) of n-butyl acrylate/heptafluorobutyl acrylate/maleic anhydride (Mw about 2,500).

EXAMPLE 26'

A film was prepared by combining, in the order indicated, 1.09 g of the crosslinkable copolymer emulsifier of Example 3', 0.21 g of a concentrate consisting of 20 wt% crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 second ss type nitrocellulose and 80 wt% of the liquid polymeric stabilizer of Example 25', 0.06 g of dibutyltin dilaurate, and 0.04 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate. The mixture was stirred with a high speed homogenizer after each addition and vacuum degassed. After the final addition the resulting emulsion was spread on the ITO coated side of two sheets of ITO coated glass with spacers and then two more sheets were placed ITO side down on top to form two sandwich cells of 1 and 5 mils respectively.

The cells were cured by placing them in an oven at 85° C. for one hour. After curing the one mil cell was energized by the application of 105v, 400Hz and the transmission and haze were measured. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 8.32% and the haze was 78.3%. The ON state transmission of the cell was 39% and the ON state haze was 79.1%.

EXAMPLE 27'

A film was prepared by adding, in the following order, 1.01 g of the silphenylene-siloxane copolymer of Example 24', 0.21 g of a concentrate consisting of 20% by weight of crystals of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid calcium polyiodide with a trace of 1/4 sec SS type nitrocellulose and 80% by weight of the liquid polymeric stabilizer of Example 25', 0.05 g of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.05 g of tetra-n-butyl orthosilicate (tetra-n-butoxy silane). After each addition this was mixed with a high speed homogenizer and degassed under vacuum, after the final addition was complete the emulsion was spread on a sheet of ITO coated glass with 5 mil spacers and a second sheet of ITO coated glass was placed on top. The sandwich cell thus formed was cured on an 85° C. oven for one hour.

The cured cell which contained an unswelled film was energized by the application of 250V, 400Hz and the ON and OFF state transmission and haze were measured. The OFF state transmission of the cell was 3.47% and the OFF state haze was 47.3%. The ON state transmission of the cell was 33.86% and the ON state haze was 20.8%. 

I claim:
 1. A film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of a light valve, comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in and in direct contact with the cross-linked poller matrix, said liquid light valve suspension comprising organic particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium.
 2. The film according to claim 1, wherein said liquid suspending medium is electrically resistive and has a polymeric stabilizer dissolved therein that prevents agglomeration of said particles.
 3. The film according to claim 1, wherein said suspension is in the form of droplets that are substantially disconnected from one another.
 4. The film according to claim 1, wherein said cross-linked poller selected matrix is selected from the group consisting of a cross-linked polybutadiene, cross-linked polystyrene, cross-linked polyacrylamide, cross-linked polyester, cross-linked polyether, cross-linked polyurethane and cross-linked polyalkene.
 5. The film according to claim 1, wherein an electrode is in contact with each surface of the film.
 6. The film according to claim 1, wherein an electrode is in contact with each surface of the film and a protective layer is in contact with the outer surface of each of said electrodes.
 7. The film according to claim 1, wherein a protective layer is in contact with both surfaces of the film.
 8. The film according to claim 1, wherein a protective layer is in contact with each surface of the film and an electrode is in contact with the outer surface of each of the protective layers.
 9. In a light valve having opposed cell walls, the improvement wherein the film according to claim 1 is between said cell walls as the light-modulating unit of the light valve.
 10. A film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of a light valve, comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix in the form of a film having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix, said liquid light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium, said film, while in its cured, cross-linked form, having been swollen with a liquid applied to the surface thereof to form a liquid-swollen film that is less light-scattering as compared to said film prior to being swollen with said liquid.
 11. The film according to claim 10, wherein the film is swollen with a liquid selected from the group consisting of liquid aliphatic ester, ether, straight or branched chain aliphatic, cycloalipatic or aromatic hydrocarbon and halogenated or perhalogented hydrocarbon.
 12. The film according to claim 2, wherein the film is swollen with liquid toluene or xylene or a liquid, low molecular weight fluorocarbon polymer having a specific gravity of at least 1.5 and having at least about 50% of its atoms constituted by halogen atoms, at least 60% of the halogen atoms being fluorine and the balance chlorine and/or bromine.
 13. The film according to claim 2, wherein said particles are organic particles.
 14. The film according to claim 2, wherein said particles are light-polarizing.
 15. In a light valve having opposed cell walls, the improvement wherein the film according to claim 10 is between said cell walls as the light-modulating unit of the light valve.
 16. A film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of a light valve, comprising a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix, said light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium.
 17. The film according to claim 16, wherein said cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer is a polyorganosiloxane homopolymer or copolymer.
 18. The film according to claim 16, wherein said cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer is a cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane polymer.
 19. The film according to claim 16, wherein said cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer is a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane copolymer of a polydimethylsiloxane and a polyalkylphenylsiloxane.
 20. The film according to claim 16, wherein said film, while in its cured, cross-linked form, has been swollen with a liquid to form a liquid-swollen film that is less light-scattering as compared to said film prior to being swollen with said liquid.
 21. The film according to claim 20, wherein the film is swollen with a liquid selected from the group consisting of liquid aliphatic ester, ether, straight or branched chain aliphatic, cycloalipatic or aromatic hydrocarbon and halogenated or perhalogented hydrocarbon.
 22. The film according to claim 20, wherein the film is swollen with liquid toluene or xylene or a liquid, low molecular weight fluorocarbon polymer having a specific gravity of at least 1.5 and having at least about 50% of its atoms constituted by halogen atoms, at least 60% of the halogen atoms being fluorine and the balance chlorine and/or bromine.
 23. In a light valve having opposed cell walls, the improvement wherein the film according to claim 16 is between said cell walls as the light-modulating unit of the light valve.
 24. A method of preparing a film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of a light valve, comprising a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polyorganosiloxane polymer matrix, said light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium; which comprises admixing a liquid cross-linkable polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer, said liquid light valve suspension and a copolymer of an organosiloxane and a copolymerizable organic monomer as emulsifier, emulsifying the resulting admixture to form an emulsion of said liquid light valve suspension in said cross-linkable liquid polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer, and cross-liking said cross-linkable liquid polyorganosiloxane oligomer or polymer while said admixture is in the form of a thin layer of said emulsion. 